Politics

House Republicans announce compromise of one year Obamacare delay and repeal of medical device tax

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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The newest Republican strategy is official: the House will agree to keep funding the government for the rest of the year if Obamacare is delayed for one year and the so-called medical device tax is permanently repealed.

On Saturday, the House Republican leadership released this statement: “The American people don’t want a government shutdown and they don’t want ObamaCare. That’s why later today, the House will vote on two amendments to the Senate-passed continuing resolution that will keep the government open and stop as much of the president’s healthcare law as possible.”

Under current law, the government is funded until Monday, meaning a continuing resolution needs to be passed to keep the government from shutting down.

More than a week ago, House Republicans passed a short-term spending bill — known as a continuing resolution — that keeps the government running for the rest of the year while simultaneously defunding President Obama’s unpopular health care law.

On Friday, the Senate passed legislation keeping the government funded though without defunding Obamacare.

Now back in the hands of the House, Speaker John Boehner says Republicans will compromise with an amended bill that includes delaying, instead of defunding, Obamcare and repealing the medical device tax.

“The first amendment delays the president’s health care law by one year,” the House leadership said. “And the second permanently repeals ObamaCare’s medical device tax that is sending jobs overseas.”

The House leadership said they will also vote on a measure that ensures troops are paid even in the case the government shuts down because the two bodies can’t come to an agree on a continuing resolution.

It’s unclear whether the Senate will even consider the compromise legislation. Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid has signaled he isn’t interested in passing a spending plan that affects Obamacare at all.

“We will do our job and send this bill over, and then it’s up to the Senate to pass it and stop a government shutdown,” the House leadership said.

Some conservative groups, however, aren’t fans of the compromise.

“Republicans must show the same conviction they did a few weeks ago and put the onus back on President Obama and Senate Democrats to either keep the government open without a dime for ObamaCare or risk a shutdown to protect their beloved ObamaCare monstrosity,” ForAmerica Chairman Brent Bozell said Saturday.

“Proposals to achieve a one-year delay for the individual mandate in exchange for funding the government are not in keeping with the promises Republicans have made to do everything in their power to prevent the damage of ObamaCare,” he said. “House Republicans must not overlook the screaming reality that an ever-growing majority of Americans do not want this horrible law.”

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Alex Pappas